Six '21st-Century Jang Bogos' Honored... Wando County Wraps Up 11th Jang Hansang

Six overseas Koreans from six countries honored; Chairman Park Geol wins Grand Prize
More than 170 lawmakers from both parties and businesspeople gather

The '11th Jang Bogo Hansang Awards' came to a successful close, bringing to life a celebration of love for the homeland and regional cooperation led by six 'Jang Bogo figures of the 21st century.'

Wando County in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City said on October 8 that it had held the awards ceremony for the '11th Jang Bogo Hansang Awards' (hereafter, the Jang Hansang Awards) on October 4 at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center. The event honored overseas Korean businesspeople who have raised Korea's profile around the world.

The Jang Hansang Awards carry on the pioneering spirit of Ambassador Jang Bogo, who dominated maritime trade in East Asia 1,200 years ago, centered around Cheonghaejin. The awards recognize overseas Korean businesspeople who have raised their homeland's standing. A total of 61 people from 25 countries have received awards through this year.

More than 170 people attended the ceremony, including National Assembly members Park Jiwon and Ahn Dogeol, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City Mayor Min Hyeongbae, Wando County Governor Kim Shin, Wando County Council Chair Choi Jeonguk, past award recipients, and businesspeople from Korea and abroad. Photo provided by Wando County.

This year, six overseas Korean businesspeople who built businesses across industries including medical devices, construction, martial arts, food distribution, gaming, and seafood products received awards. They came from six countries and regions: China, Brazil, the United States, Austria, Taiwan, and Japan.

The Grand Prize went to Park Geol, chairman of China's Kersian Group. The other winners were Han Youngnam, chairman of Brazil's SKN Group, who received the National Assembly Speaker's Award; Jung Woojin, grand master of Jung's Taekwondo in the United States, who received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award; Jung Jongwan, chairman of Austria's Pan Asia Group, who received the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award; Yang Minyoung, CEO of Taiwan's HappyTuk, who received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award; and Shin Sangyun, CEO of Japan's Shin International, who received the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Award.

More than 170 people attended the ceremony, including National Assembly Members Park Jiwon and Ahn Dogeol, former Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Mayor Min Hyungbae, Wando County Governor Kim Shin, Wando County Council Chair Choi Jeonguk, Kim Deokryong, chair of the Jang Bogo Global Foundation, and Kim Jongpal, chair of the Association of Jang Bogo Hansang Award Recipients, as well as past award recipients and businesspeople from Korea and abroad.

Wando County Governor Kim Shin said, "We will continue to expand exchanges and cooperation so that the relationships formed through the Jang Hansang Awards can become a new driver of growth for Wando and Korea. As the birthplace of Ambassador Jang Bogo, we will do our utmost to share his pioneering global spirit with the world."

Meanwhile, recipients of the Jang Hansang Awards have gone beyond simply accepting awards and are actively working to develop overseas markets for Wando's specialty products and support local businesses.

Recently, the Association of Jang Bogo Hansang Award Recipients purchased Wando abalone products worth KRW 50 million. Jung Jongwan, who received this year's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award, also said in his acceptance remarks that he would make an additional purchase of Wando abalone worth KRW 60 million, adding to the warmth of the occasion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.